Adhesive tape dispenser and applier



1950 B. H. LOCKE ET AL 2,515,130

ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLIER Filed Feb. 13, 1948 [NVE/VT P5 M14- 5% Patented July 11, 1950 ADHESIVE TAPE DISPENSER AND APPLIER Burton H. Locke, Framingham, and Howard A. Johnson, Melrose, Mass.

Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,104

This invention relates to improvements in devices for taping around the edges of boxes or packages, or the like, utilizing pressure-sensitive coated adhesive tape, whereby the tape is dispensed from a roll and applied to the edges of boxes or packages, or the like, to seal the cover thereto or the edge thereof, by the movement of the article.

The objects of the invention are to provide a simple device whereby a strip of pressure-sensitive coated tape will be dispensed from a roll and applied around the edge of the article by the simple medium of sliding the article over a surface of the frame of the device; and to provide a device that is inexpensive to produce and one that will require but a minimum of maintenance due to the simple mechanism involved. Other objectives are to provide means that will permit the utilization of different widths of tape and means whereby strips of tape can be severed from the roll for other uses when required.

In order to accomplish our objectives, we conceive to utilize the linear movement of the article over a portion of the frame to dispense the tape directly from the roll and to sever the applying portion from the roll during said movement, in conjunction with the swinging motion of an arm pivotly mounted coaxially with the roll of tape, and actuated by the moving article, to control the dispensing and severing of the tape and to return the freed end of the tape to proper position for subsequent application to an article.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1, is a plan view of our improved dispensing and applying device.

Figure 2, is a side elevation of same with the cover section of the housing removed.

Figure 3, is a sectional elevation taken on line 3-3, of Figure 1.

Figure 4, is a fragmental view showing another tape adhering means.

Our improved adhesive tape dispenser and applier comprises a housing In comprising a main section H for mounting the mechanism therein and a cover section |2 for enclosing the same. In this instance, section I2 is attached to section by means of screws |3 extending through cover l2 and having threaded engagement with section II. However, cover I 2 could be hinged to main section II, or fastened thereto, by any other suitable conventional means. The bottom of housing is provided with slotted ears M for use in attaching the device to a bench or table and an upper flat surface I 5 for supporting a 6 Claims. (Cl. 216-21) same in the process of applying a portion of tape around an edge of the article. There is a slot It, in surface l5, through which the tape is dispensed and the dispensing and applying controlling mechanism operates. Slot I6 is generally formed in section II and arranged so that one side of same is open to facilitate threading the tape through the mechanism when the cover I2 is removed. There is a sleeve secured in section H and extending inwardly to rotatively support a pressure yieldable arm H3 and a roll of pressure-sen-'-' sitive coated adhesive tape 9 which are retained axially thereon by means of a spacer 20 interme-- diate said arm and section II and a collar 2| which is held on sleeve I! by means of set screws 22. It will be noted that arm I8 is always retained in the same axial relation on said sleeve by its abutment with spacer 20 and that collar 2| can he slid on sleeve I! to properly abut, and thereby guide, various widths of tape that may be used in the device and then lockedv in posi-' tion. Obviously, collar 2| is removed when the roll of tape is replenished-and is again secured in position to permit free rotation of the said arm and roll of tape and will prevent excessive axial movement of the parts. Collar 2| is pro'-. vided. with a flange portion 23 to further guide the travel of the tape. 1

Arm I8 is normally brought to a pressure yield-Q able upright position extending up through slot It by means of a spring 24 attached to a ro-- jecting ear 25, on said arm, and to a bolt 26 at.- tached to section II, of housing Ill, and is there positioned by means of abutment with a pin secured in said section II.

A roll 28 is rotatively mounted on a stud 29 secured in arm l8 and is positioned above surface I5, of housing II], when arm i8 is normally upright for the purpose of backing up the tape in contacting an article A. The outer surface of roll 28 is preferably of a resilient structure, such as rubber or the like, to afford resilientbacking for tape 30 and thereby assure even pressure contact as the article is brought in pressure contact therewith inthe process of adhering the coated side 3| of the said tape thereto. I

There is another roll 32 mounted on arm H! in the same manner as roll 28 for the purpose of contacting the coated side 3|, of the tape, and effect adhesion thereto by reason of the pressure therebetween effected by the dispensing of'the' tape from the 'roll. The purpose 0f ro1l '32 is to retain the tape properly to cause the free end of same to extend upwardly, substantially as shown, to contact the article "A as the same is progressed on surface l5, of housing Ill. The outer surface of roll 32 is generally hard and glassy smooth to eliminate removing any of the coating from the tape which, if removed thereby, would quickly foul the roll and spoil the adhesive property of the tape. We conceive to construct roll 32 of a rigid plastic material, such as, cellulose-acetate, orthe like, which .will af-v ford a smooth glassy-zsurface that will not are move any of the pressure-sensitive coating from movement of article A, a backward curl .is

created therein which tends to stiffen the same causing the free end thereof to standup in a As the tape is pulled over roll 28 in the favorable position to contact article A, as shown in Figure 2.

It will .benotedthat rolls. 28 .and. 32 are supportedon. studs which are fastened into arm 18 andItherefore the other. end thereof is opento facilitate threadingthe tape therebetween when the. cover 12,.of housing. H3, is removed.

As article .A. is advanced the tape immediately adheres to same at the point of contact with thelroll. 28 by reason of the yieldable pressure af-v forded by arm I 8 and as the article progresses farther the. arm l8 resiliently yieldsand ,is 'pivoted by thearticle. and roll -23"travels down the articlefand slightly around the edge thereof adhering the tape in its path thereto. Arm I8 is extended above roll 28'for .the purpose of effecting sufiicientpivot of same by the article travel: ing over the top of same to cause roll- 28 .to be carried below surface 15, of housing 7 l0. The

maximum. pivoted .positioncf arm 18 is effected tached to a boss 35. integral with section, II, of

housing It. severing blade 34 is generally positioned tojust clear roll 28 as the. same is pivoted to its lowest position. inorderto sever the tape asclose to said roll as possible to minimize .the pivoting. of-arm l8 andthe necessary movement of .the article over surface 15. Theisevering of the .tape is effected by the tape beingdrawn taut against blade.34 asthe' article .is progressingon surface l5. Severing blade .34 .-.is generally-seine ratedas shown to facilitate,- severingthetape and,..to furtherfacili'tate severing the same,.the severing .edge could .be inclined to theltravel of the. tape, in 'twodirections asshownaorin. one. directionif desired a As the article. is-progressedfrom fB."to 07..

thelltapegis pressure-adhered-to the bottom of same by. the. articleitraveling ,over a yieldable spring. loaded roll..3.6.-.which is. rotatively. mounted on.a studa3l secured in a, lever arm 38.. 'Arm,38 is pivotly mountedito section. I.l,. of 'housingill],

onlsaidw section -.I Arm -38 ...is actuated .by meansof a spring-M swhich abuts. saidiarm ,and

a boss 4-2eprovidedlon section. I I, of housingllnl The upward-travel of arm38 is limitedbya stud extending through a slot 44 provided. in; boss 42, thence throughespring- 41, and; havingthread ed engagement in said arm. Obviously, a nonrotatable yieldable member could be utilized for the article to slide over to adhere the tape thereto in lieu of roll 36 if desired.

There is an upright member 45 integral with section I I, of housing In, for the purpose of contacting the end of the article when it has advanced to C to complete the adhesion of the free endof thetape thereto. Member 45 is generally faced with a resilient bumpingplate; 46, generally constructed of rubber, or the like, to absorb the shock of abutment of the objects and to assure even adherence of the tape to the article.

A severing blade 4'! is attached to section II,

of-housing ill, usually just ahead of arm I8 and immediately below surface l5 so as to eliminate interference with the said arm and the article as it is advanced'over'surface Hi. The purpose of blade .41 '-'1iS to provide a means of conveniently severing strips of tape from the roll for other uses after. thesame is first dispensed from the rollby pulling. thelfr'ee .end out over roll 32; .If desired arm I 8 could be'pivoteddownwardwith one hand and a portion of tape dispensedand severed from thelroll on severing. bladefil with the other hand, and in such instance,:severing bladel ti would not be requiredand couldbe eliminated without sac.- rifice of this" feature afforded by'our device,

The complete operation of. the device is ,accomplished by'sliding the'article to beJtaped over surface i5f'0f the housing. When the article reachesthe positionfA a portion of the .tape a slight distance from the. extremefree end is adhered toithe frontend of the article due to the yieldable pressure contact of roll 28. .'As the artic'le progressesfrom A'to .B, the arm is pivoted thereby. to the position shown by broken lines 33"and, simultaneouslmjthe.roll 28.travels down the" front end and slightly around the edgeof the article adhering the tapethereto along its path. As'the article progressesbeyond B,"the'.tape is drawn taut onto; the severing blade 34 which severs the'l'adhering portion'from the roll. The'extreme' upper free en'djof theltape is adhered to the articleiwhen the article finally abuts the upright resilient. bumper .453. Thearticle is then'lifted from'the' table or surface i5 "whichfrees arm" I8, permitting the same. to return to it's normal up right "position carryinggwith. it thefurther dispensed .portion of tape, by. reason that. the tape is adhered to'iroll.32;and'.positions thesame for subsequent application to an article.

Inasmuch 'as the '.tape. carrying" rolls pivot c.oaxially with therolfo'f tape, by reason of being mountedo'narm'l 8, and the roll. of tape is free to rotateso that the tape is always dispensed ona radialline "therefrom; .the' dispensed porti'on' of tape intermediate thefzrolland'the tape carrying rolls willremain taut anduinchan'ged as. the arm i8 is returned. to its .normal upright position: Therefore," the"forward"e'nd 'of the further dis-. pensed portion of tape wilt-be"-carried backto proper 'positionin favorable condition for subsequent application to an. article.

We'donot wishto"bepconfined to the exact .de-'.

tails 'setii'for'th'as the" same are susceptibleof modificationwithoutdeparting from the'spirit or scope Iof'the'invention.

Forexa'mplejwe. conceive other. arrangementof equipment. that. could ibeyemployed to adhitdth. tape to the, article, .witl1out.departing. from .our basic conception .pfIJJdiSpensing .the .tapedire'ctly from the rollbythe movement-of the article. in.a linear pathlrelative itheiieto v andth'efievering. of the;,'tape;.direct1y.-. from the; roll" as. "the; .article..;is

moving, and the mounting of the tape positioning means to pivot coaxial with the roll of tape so that the free portion of the tape remains at rest thereon as the means swings into normal posit-ion. For example, Figure 4 shows another arrangement of tape adhering means that could be employed which comprises a third roll 48 rotatively mounted on a yieldable spring loaded arm 49 pivoted on an extension of stud 29 in position to swing back of arm l8 and to be carried thereby. In this instance, the resilient loading of arm 49 is accomplished by a suitably formed fiat leaf spring 50 which abuts arms I8 and 49, and the backward travel of arm 49 is limited by mean of its abutment with a pin 5i which is secured in arm l8. Arm 49 is arranged to normally position roll 48 above and substantiall in advance of roll 28 to contact the article A in advance of the same as the article is moved across surface 15, of housing Ill. The roll 48 contacts the article just above the extreme end portion of the tape and travels down the front and around the corner and in under the same as the article is progressed, thereby adhering the both extreme ends of the tape to the article. Obviously, arm 49 yields to the movement of the article and efiects pressure contact of roll 48 to adhere the tape to the article. Arm 49 abuts pin 5! while roll 48 is substantially above roll 28 so that roll 28 will be carried below surface in the same manner and with the same results being accomplished as afforded by arm l8 being extended above roll 28 in the arrangement shown in Figure 2. In this arrangement of tape adhering means, roll 36 and upright bumper member 45, shown and used in the previous arrangement, could be eliminated and the article could be moved over surface IS in one straight path without interruption of being stopped against bumper member 45 and being required to be lifted thereafter.

We claim:

1. An adhesive tape dispenser and applier comprising a structure to aXially support a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, a pivoted member on said structure to carry a tape carrying roll to contact the coated side of said tape, said pivoted member being substantially concentric with the said roll of tape, another roll carried by said pivoted member to contact the back of said tape to pressure-adhere a free end of the tape to an article upon movement of the article in on direction thereagainst, the combined structure being arranged to efiect dispensing of a portion of tape from its roll upon continued movement of the article, and a cutter disposed to sever the dispensed portion of tape from the roll as the article is moving in the said direction, and further means to contact the back of the tape to complete the adherence of the tape to the article by pressing the tape thereon as the article is progressed.

2. A tape dispenser and applier as defined in claim 1 characterized by spring means for restoring the parts actuated by the movement of the article to position for cooperation with a subsequent article.

3. An adhesive tape dispenser and applier comprising a structure supporting a roll of pressuresensitive tape with one end portion free, means of applying the said free end portion of the tape to an article upon movement of the article thereagainst, said means including an arm mounted on said structure substantially concentric with said roll to carry the tape and to be pivoted by the movement of the article, said arm supporting tape abutting means to press the end portion of the tape onto the article upon said movement thereof, tape adhering means carried by said arm whereover the tape may be dispensed but whereby the same will be retained substantially at rest on said arm to swing therewith when the said arm is returning to its normal position, means to sever the dispensing portion of tape for application to the article at a predetermined point during its dispensement comprising a cutter supported by said structure to sever the tape uponthe drawing of the same thereagainst by the movement of the article, the pivotal mounting of said arm being disposed so that dispensing of tape thereover may be effected by the movement of the article and the tape will remain substantially at rest thereon during the return movement thereof, and means to efiect final adhesion of the tape to the article.

4. A tape dispenser and applier as defined in claim 3 having spring means to restore the parts actuated by the movement of the article to their normal position.

5. A tape applying device comprising a structure axially supporting a supply roll of pressuresensitive coated adhesive tape having an end portion extended in a predetermined position to be applied to an article upon movement of the article thereagainst, an arm mounted on said structure substantially concentric with said roll and having means to support substantially the entire said end portion of the tape from the supply roll to the position of application to the article so that substantially no dispensing of tape from the supply roll nor substantial movement of any portion of the tape relative to the arm will occur upon movement of the arm except when tape is being applied to an article and is resultantly thereby being operatingly dispensed over the arm, said means comprising a roll mounted on said arm to contact the coated side of the tape and thereby positively carry substantially the entire said portion of tape with the arm upon movement thereof, roller means mounted on said arm to effect adherence of the near end portion of the tape to an article upon movement of the article thereagainst whereupon the said movement of the article causes a further portion of tape to be dispensed, along the arm directly from the supply roll for subsequent application to another article, a severing blade mounted on the said structure to contact and sever the applying portion of tape from the supply roll as the tape is pulled thereagainst by the movement of the arm eifected by the movement of the article.

6. A tape applying device as described in claim 5 having resilient means to restore the said arm to its normal position for subsequent application of tape to another article after tape has been applied to an article.

BURTON H. LOCKE. HOWARD A. JOHNSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,418 Salfisberg Jan. 11, 1944 2,363,277 Anderson Nov. 21, 1944 2,404,317 Salfisberg July 16, 1946 

